Water stage and discharge recorder



E. SCHAUB.

WATER STAGE AND DISCHARGE RECORDER.

v APPLICATION FILED JULY 26,19I6. 1 1,336,090. nted Apr. 6, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- E. SCHAUB.

WATER STAGE AND DISCHARGE RECORDER.

Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 2 APPLICATION FILED JULY 26, 1916.

UNTTED STATES PATENT QFFTGEQ I EUGENE SCHAUB, OF LOGAN, UTAH.

WATER STAGE AND DISCHARGE RECORDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 6, 1o2o.

Application filed July 26, 1916. Serial No. 111,378.

tion in the height and volumes of natural bodies of water at variousperiods of time, and to produce a permanent record of such variations.

The objects of the invention are, first, to produce a simple mechanismwhich is efficient in operation so as to produce automatically acontinuous record of the variations in the height or discharge of afluid during the hours of the day and night; sec- 0nd, to minimize thefriction and wear on the working parts by dispensing with gears andbelts and making provision for the adjustment of parts to compensate forwear; to provide means adapted by adjustment to obtain an indefinitenumber of scales; and to produce a record sheet which is free fromatmospheric influences and is adapted for treatment in a manner toobtain an inefiaceable or unalterable and permanent record, free fromthe uncertainties and defects inherent in the use of pencils andfluidink pens ordinarily employed in 'hydrographic and recordinginstruments generallv.

A salient feature of the invention is a st vluscarrying membercontrollable by the rise and fall of a float and mounted for travelingand rotative movement relatively to a record sheet, the latter beingunder the action of a clock train so as to be movable constantly and atdefinite speed, the plane of movement of the stylus-carrying elementbeing at a right angle to the direction of movement of the record sheet.A further feature of the invention consists of a special moisture-proofrecord sheet treated with hot wax, or equivalent material, containing acertain percentage of rosin, or its equivalent. combined with atransfersubstance carrying member, such as a spool, and a styluspositioned to inscribe the surface of the prepared sheet in such mannerthat the transfer substance will be applied to the prepared record sheetand thus result in a chart or diagram without the use of a pencil orfluid-ink pen, which chart or diagram may, by subsequent treatment, beconverted into a permanent record, such subsequent treatment consistingin heating the prepared sheet so as to incorporate the lines of thetransfer substance with the wax, whereby the lines of the chart ordiagram are rendered ineffaceable and unalterable in the preservation ofthe record for an indefinite time.

The mechanism which it is preferred to use in connection with the waxedrecord sheet and the transfer substance comprises a control spool aroundwhich is wrapped a sheet of carbon or other transfer paper, a feed spoolon which the waxed paper is coiled and from which said waxed paper isconducted so as to contact with the transfer surface of the controlspool, a take up spool for coiling the waxed paper after the lattershall have been inscribed to produce the chart or diagram, and a clocktrain for driving the control spool at a certain predetermined speed. 4

The stylus-carrying element is embodied in a double cone the apices ofwhich face in opposite directions, combined with suitable supportingrails, and suitable contact rails carried by the supporting rails, thesurfaces of said double cone being in direct frictional contact withconvex surfaces of the contact rails, whereby the double cone is mountedfor rotative movement upon and between the contact rails in a manner tominimize the friction and wear. The angularity of the surfaces of thedouble cone may vary as required, and said rails are adapted to beshifted relatively to the double cone so that an indefinite number ofscales may be obtained.

Said double cone carries a stylus positioned at the axis of rotation andfree to move in the direction of said axis. The stylus forms a part of aspindle which slides in a bushing, the latter being in an axial boreprovided in the hub of the double cone, and against this bushing isseated an incased spring. the tension of which is applied to impel thestylus into contact with the waxed record sheet with sufiicient force toproduce the lines adapted to form the chart or diagram.

In the drawings.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an instrument embodying this inventionfor recording the stage and volume of water in natural bodies,irrigating ditches, etc.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section taken in the plane of the dotted line22 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the instrument shown in Figs. 1 and 2. v

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale il'l'ustratin a partof the controlling spool, the trave ing double conical member whichcarries the stylus adapted for cooperation with said controlling spool,and the means for mounting said traveling member, whereby it is adaptedfor rotative and.

traversing movement in a direction parallel to the axis of rotatlon ofthe controlling spool,- and Fig. 5 is a detail view of the recordingstylus,illustrating one construction whereby said stylus'is adapted tobe shifted out of contact with the record sheet.

A designates a controlling spool carried by a horizontal shaft a whichis mounted in suitable bearings a of a frame B, consisting of side latesfastened rigidly to a suitable base f3. The controlling spool is mountedloosely on shaft (1, and this spool is driven at a constantpredetermined speed by a time train of any suitable construction, thesame being contained within a casing C suitably attached to the base B.

The time train is provided with an arbor 0 to which is fixed a gearpinion 0', the teeth of which are in mesh wlth the teeth of a gear fixedto an end portion of the shaft a, whereby the time tram is adapted toimpart rotative movement to the controlling spool. This spool carries atransfer medium or substance, the same being herein shown as a sheet Dof carbon paper, but it is apparent that the spool may carry other formsof transfer material than the carbon sheet D. 1

The shaft-a of the control spool extends beyond the bearing aprovided'for the end portion of the shaft opposite to the gear 0 wherebythe shaft a is adapted to extend for a suitable distance beyond one ofthe frame plates. On this extended .end of the shaft is-mounted a drumE, the latter being loose on the shaft so as to rotate in one directionindependently of the shaft when winding up the gravity weight E, paidgravity weight L having a cord or cable e-which is coiled on the drum E.The weight drum E is provided with a ratchet hub f, the ratchet teeth ofwhich are adapted for interlocking engagement with the teeth provided ona face of a ratchet F, the hub f of said ratchet being connected by aspline f with the spool shaft (1-. The ratchet F is retained ininterlocking engagement with the ratchet hub f of the weight drum by acoiled spring F which is fitted loosely upon the protruding end of thespool shaft a, whereby the spring presses the ratchet F into'engagementwith the weight drum E so as to make said weight drum fast with theshaft a for imparting rotative movement to the spool A, the speed ofsaid spool being under the control of the time train. The spring F isheld from displacement on the shaft by a collar F, or its equivalent.

In my instrument it is preferred to employ a moisture-proof record sheetG, the same consisting of a sheet or web of paper coated or impregnatedwith paraflin, wax, or the like, the said sheet being prepared byrunning the fibrous material through a bath of melted wax, or equivalentmaterial, containing about ten per cent. of rosin, after which the sheetis positioned for the excess material to drain off and is then dried inorder to place it in condition suitable for use in the machine. It isevident that other means of preparing the wax moisture-proof sheet maybe employed without departing from the invention. A supply of the recordsheet is coiled upon a feed spool G, the shaft 9 of which is mounted inopen-ended slots or other bearings rovided in the frame plates B. Therecor sheet is conducted from the feed spool beneath the control spool Aso as to have direct contact with the transfer sheet D carried by saidcontrol spool. The record sheet is wound as re- -quired upon a take-upspool H, the latter being supported by shifting bearings so that thetake-up spool will have frictional contact with the control spoolsuflicient to impart rotative movement to the take-up spool, wherebytraveling movement is imparted to the record sheet by the positivelydriven control spool, the latter acting to impart rotative movement tothe take-up spool by reason of the frictional contact between the twospools A, H. The frictionally driven take-up spool H is on a shaftwhichjis fitted in open end bearings onslots h of swinging arms H havingpivotal connection at 71 with the frame. plates, said arms H, beinginclined toward the control spool in order that the take-up spool maycontact by the weight thereof with said control spool.,

' I designate the traveling and rotatable stylus-carrying member adaptedfor cooperation with the control spool, said member I being controlledby a counter-weighted float J. The member I is, in practice, a doublecone, the surfaces 1', i" of which face in opposite directions,and theapices of said conesbein in the planeof the axis of a .hub i. Theperiphery of the double cone member is provided with an annular groove jin which is fitted the cord or cable 7" I 'of the float,'one end of saidcable being,at-

. whereby the rise and fall of the float imparts rotative movement tothe marking cone I.

axial bore or passage is, adaptedto accommodate a sleeve K which isslidable within the hub The sleeve acts as a guide for a stylus spindleL, one end portion of which normally protrudes beyond the sleeve so thatthe stylus Z is in frictional contact with the record sheet G. Thesleeve K and the stylus spindle L are normally projected an operatingdistance beyond the hub of the double cone by a spring M incased withinthe hub and seated against one part of the. cone, said spring actingagainst a follower m which is in contact with the inner end portion of.the tube K and the stylus spindle L, see Fig. l. The back thrust of thestylus on the spindle and the spring is taken up by an anti-frictionball N, the latter being rotatably fitted. in a recess of the cone 1.This thrust ball rides against the flange n of a rail N, so that theaction of the spring upon the cone I will not detract from the freerotation of the cone in its traversing movement with respect to thecontrol spool A. It is preferredto divide the stylus spindle L so as toform a pivoted section L, adapted to be held in fixed relation to thesleeve K by a pin 0 which fits in a bayonet groove 0 provided in thesleeve K. It is apparent that the pivoted section L of the stylus may beadjusted by withdrawing the stud 0 from the slot 0", thus allowing thepivoted section and the stylus to be shifted into and out-of-serviceposition relatively to the record sheet and the control spool, thusmaking provision for the adjustment of the record sheet or thereplacement of said sheet as desired, but when the instrument is inservice the. pivoted sectioncarrying the stylus locked to the sleeve Kby adjusting the stud 0 in the bayonet slot of said sleeve.

The carrying member I is mounted for traversing movement by means whichminimizes the frictional engagementof said marking member with itssupporting means. To thisend I provide supporting rails P, P

.which are attached in a suitable way to downwardly converging,standards 7), the latter being suitably fastened to the base B. Therails P, P are'recessed to accommodate contact rails Q, Q, shown moreclearly in Fig. 4. Each contact rail consists of a length or bar ofmetal circular in cross section, or having any other desired cross.

sectional form with a curved surface positioned for frictional contactwith the conical surfaces 2', i of the member I. It will be noted byreference to Figs. 2 and 4 that the member I is positioned between therails .P, P for the conical surfaces of said mem-.

her to have frictional contact with the rails Q, Q, the convex surfacesof which afford as follows A sheet of carbon paper, preferably of goodquality, is wound upon the control spool, the stylus being adjusted outof the. way and the take-up spool bein shifted away from the controlspool. The prepared record sheet is wound upon the feed spool, and isconducted into contact with the transfer surface on the control spooland then wound. upon the take-up spool, the latter being'restored intocontact with the control spool. The stylus having been readjusted intocontact with the record sheet, the recorder is in condition foroperation. Assuming the float does not rise or fall, it is apparent thatthe. rotation of the control spool, the consequent feed of the recordsheet and the operation of the stylus will result in a mark extending ina straight line along the record sheet. As the float rises or falls, thecable imparts rotative movement to the drum, and the frictional contactof said drum with the rails, causes a traversing movement to be given tothe drum and the stylus, hence the conjoint action of the moving recordsheet and the. traveling stylus will produce on the record sheet a chartor diagram indicative of. the condition of the water.

It is apparent that the diagram produced upon the record sheet is due tothe pressure of the stylus against said sheet and the contact of thelatter with the transfer surface. The record sheet is removed at theproper time and subjected to heat and pressure, so that the transfermaterial will become in-, corporated with the wax or paraffin on therecord sheet, thus resulting in a permanent record.

It will be noted that the time train operates independently of themarking drum so that the time train continues in operation whileadjusting the paper for time. The center of the conical marking drumdoes not change in elevation with respect to the central longitudinalaxis of said drum, hence the pointer describes a straight line in itsmay be produced simultaneously on the same sheet.

As shown, spreaders T are used between the carrying rails to maintainthe latter in fixed relation. Said rails are parallel, as

whereby a' low condition may be graphically depicted, the same beingvery desirable in some cases.

All the working parts may obviouslybe incased to exclude moisture anddust. The

stylus may be an alloy of nickel steel or any other suitable material.The instrument operates with very little friction, and with no apparentlost motion or cramping in any of its parts. It is sensitive to changesin the fluid level. By reason of the absence of gears and belts, theenergy required to operate the marking spool is minimized, hence thetranslation in the rise and fall of the fluid is obtained in a mostdirect manner. The ratchet mechanism is a simple and effectivecontrivance for the time "train Weight. Apparently, the angularity ofthe conical drum can be varied as required, for the reason that slightchanges in the angle may be demanded by practical service in order tosecure good results. Said drum may be composed of metal, such as analloy of steel, and any wear on the surface of said drum? is compensatedfor by shifting the standard which forms a part of the drum guide.

In the drawings I have shown the double cone marking member I as havingsmooth surfaces 95 i, but it is apparent that said surfaces z i may begrooved or stepped in an obvious manner and for an apparent purpose.

Having thus fullydescribed the invention, what I claim as new'and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

In a recorder of the class described, a bearing surface, a marking drumpositioned for frictional contact'with said bearing surface, and meansfor rotating said drum and to impart, by frictional contact with saidbearing surface, a traversing movement to said drum relatively to thebearing surface, in combination with the record sheet, means for movingthe same, and astylus movable with said marking drum. v

2. -Ina recorder-of the class described, a bearing surface, amarkingdrum mounted in frictional contact'with said bearing surface, andmeans for rotating said drum whereby the frictional contact of therotatable drum with said bearing surface results in a traversingmovementof'the drum with respect to the bearing surface, in combinationwith a record sheet, means for feeding the same, a' stylus movable withthe markingdrum, and means for impelling said stylus into vforciblecontact with said record sheet.

- 3. In a recorder of thebclass described, a bearing surface, a marking,drum positioned for direct frictional contact with said bearing surface,and means for rotating said drum whereby the frictional contact of thedrum with the bearing'surface results in a traversing movement of thedrum with re-' spect to said bearing surface, in combination with arotative member the axis of which is parallel to the line of traversingmovement imparted to the marking drum, a transfer surface on saidrotatable member, a time train for driving therotatable member, a

record sheet in contact with the transfer surface of the rotatablemember, and a stylus carried by the marking drum for contact underpressure with the record sheet.

4. In a recorder of the class described, the combination of a rotatablemember, a transfer surface thereon, a time train for driving therotatable member, a record sheet in direct contact with the transfersurface and adapted to be fed by the movement thereof,

a bearing surface parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotatablemember, a marking drum mounted for direct frictional contact with saidbearing surface, means for rotating the marking drum so that thefrictional contact of said drum with the bearing surface will result ina traversing movement of the drum in a path parallel to the plane of therecord sheet, and a yieldably mounted stylus movable with the markingdrum and positioned for direct frictional contact with the record sheet.

5. In a recorder of the class described, a marking drum comprisingtapering parts positioned to face in opposite directions, and aplurality of rails constituting a bearing surface with which thetapering parts of the drum, are in direct frictional contact, in

combination with means for rotating said drum so as to impart thereto atraversing movement relatively to the rails, a record. sheet, means forfeeding said record sheet,

a stylus mounted in said marking drum for a traversing movement withrespect to the rails, a record sheet, means for feeding it, and a stylusmounted directly in the marking drum at the axis of rotation thereof,said stylus being movable into direct frictional contact with saidrecord sheet.

7. In a recorder of the class described, a plurality of railsconstituting a bearing surface, a marking drum in frictional contactwith said rails, and a spring actuated stylus mounted directly in themarking drum in the plane of the axis of rotation thereof,

- in combination with means for rotating said drum and by reason of itsfrictional contact with the rails imparting a traversing movementthereto, a rotatable member, a transfer surface thereon, a record sheetin contact with said transfer surface, and, means for feeding the recordsheet.

8. In a device of the class described, the

combination with means for carrying a' transfer surface, and means forpresenting a fibrous sheet in contact therewith, of a track parallel tothe surfaces of the transfer surface carrier and the fibrous sheet, arotatable and traveling member supported by the track and movable alongto the paper sheet and the transfer surface, a stylus slidably mountedon said rotatable and traveling member in the plane of the axis ofrotation thereof, and means exerting pressure for rotating said drumwhereby the frictional contact of the drum with the bearing surfaceimparts atraversing motion to the drum wit-h respect to the bearingsurface and in a path substantially parallel to the surface ofthe recordsheet, a stylus slidable with respect to the rotatable and travelingdrum, and means for applying pressure continuously to said stylus so asto retain it in forcible and direct contact with the record sheet,whereby said stylus coacts with the record sheet for effecting thetransfer to the surface of said sheet of material from the transfersurface.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination with means forcarrying a transfer surface, of separate means for feeding a fibroussheet into contact with said transfer surface, a rotatable membermounted for traversing movement in a path sub stantially parallel to thesurface of said fibrous sheet, a float and connections whereby rotativeand traversing movement is imparted directly to said member, a styluscarried by said member and movable in the plane of the axis of rotationof said member, and pressure means cooperating with said stylus forexciting pressure constantly thereon.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

' EUGENE SCHAUB.

